Throughout the interview with Gracia after Juan Jose Zarate's slaying, Chase said, Gracia never claimed he was acting in self-defense when he allegedly stabbed the victim on May 6, 2007.

The detective, who testified at Gracia's trial in Ventura County Superior Court, said Gracia told him that he went to Goode's Liquor store at 1271 Saviers Road to get a Lotto ticket with friends.

Gracia, 30, is accused of stabbing Zarate in the chest during a confrontation.

Gracia wasn't paying attention to the conversations going on around him, Chase said the defendant told him.

Gracia told the detective that he didn't know how the argument started or anything about it.

"I really wasn't paying attention to what they were saying or nothing like that," Chase said Gracia told him. "I was just going along for the ride. Everything I told you is the truth so far."

Chase said he often pressed Gracia for more details and information about the crime during the 40- to 45-minute interview. Gracia continued to deny stabbing anyone, Chase said.

In an interview outside the courtroom, Gracia's lawyer, James Harmon, said his client stabbed Zarate but acted in self-defense because he felt his safety threatened by the belligerent victim.

In his testimony, Chase said Gracia never said the victim removed his belt to use as a weapon or threatened him with a knife.

Later, Gracia said that he and Zarate shook hands and that Juan Velazquez started the argument because his girlfriend, Maritza Jaime, "felt disrespected," Chase testified.

Gracia told him that Jaime felt disrespected because Zarate "looked at her in a weird manner," the detective testified.

Chase said one male witness who saw the stabbing said there were four people in the store, including Gracia, Velazquez and Jaime. The witness identified Gracia as the person who stabbed Zarate, according to Chase. Chase said Jaime was subpoenaed to testify in the trial but has ignored the court order and disappeared.

Under cross-examination by Harmon, Chase admitted that police used a ruse when they were interrogating Gracia, telling him that they had a videotape recording of the stabbing. Chase said this wasn't true.

"Of course, you're allowed to do that?" Harmon asked Chase.

The detective said police are allowed to use ruses while interrogating suspects.

Chase said Gracia was out of prison nearly two months before he stabbed Zarate. Gracia is a member of the Loma Flats street gang in Oxnard. Chase admitted he used a "stern voice" and got "testy" toward the end of the interview with Gracia because of the lies, Chase said, he was being told by Gracia.